U.S. patent application number 10/170414 was filed with the patent office on 2003-01-30 for method for preparing casing for use in a wellbore.
Invention is credited to Kaiser, Trent Michael Victor, Slack, Maurice William.
Application Number | 20030019637 10/170414 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25682620 |
Filed Date | 2003-01-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030019637 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Slack, Maurice William ; et
al. |
January 30, 2003 |
Method for preparing casing for use in a wellbore
Abstract
A method for preparing casing for use in a wellbore such as for
example, in preparation, for use to line a borehole through a
formation or to act as a drill string and thereafter to remain in
hole. In the method, a device supporting the use of the wellbore
casing is crimped onto the outer surface of the casing. The device
supporting casing use can be to facilitate run in through the
borehole, to maintain positioning relative to the borehole, to
accommodate wear against the wall of the borehole into which the
casing is run or to enhance the results of cementing. The devices
supporting the use of the casing are attached by crimping to the
casing to create a connection having structurally significant axial
and torque load transfer capacity.
Inventors: |
Slack, Maurice William;
(Edmonton, CA) ; Kaiser, Trent Michael Victor;
(Edmonton, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BENNETT JONES LLP
4500 Bankers Hall East
855 - 2nd Street SW
Calgary
T2P 4K7
CA
|
Family ID: |
25682620 |
Appl. No.: |
10/170414 |
Filed: |
June 14, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/380 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 7/20 20130101; E21B
29/00 20130101; E21B 17/1078 20130101; E21B 17/1085 20130101; Y10T
29/49913 20150115; Y10T 29/49934 20150115; E21B 17/16 20130101;
E21B 43/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
166/380 |
International
Class: |
E21B 019/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 15, 2001 |
CA |
2,350,681 |
Jul 18, 2001 |
CA |
2,353,249 |
Claims
1. A method for preparing casing for use in a wellbore comprising:
selecting a joint of casing having an outer diameter and an outer
surface and capable of receiving a device thereon by crimping and
selecting a device supporting the use of the casing in a wellbore,
the device having an outer facing surface, an inner bore
sufficiently large to allow insertion therethrough of the joint of
casing, and at least one tubular section on the body, the portion
of the inner bore extending through the tubular section having an
internal diameter capable of loosely fitting about the outer
diameter of the joint of casing; positioning the device on the
joint of casing such that the joint of casing extends through the
inner bore; and crimping the device onto the joint of casing by
applying an inward, substantially radially-directed force to a
plurality of points about an outer circumference of the tubular
section causing it to plastically deform inwardly and come into
contact with the outer surface of the joint of casing, applying
such additional inward, substantially radially directed force as
required to force both the tubular section of the device and the
outer surface of the casing to displace inwardly an amount at least
great enough so that when the force is released, an interference
fit is created between the device and the casing.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the casing is for wellbore
completion.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the casing is for use in a drill
string.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the casing is prepared to act as
an anchor joint.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the device supporting the use is
selected from those useful for facilitating run in of the
casing.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the device supporting the use
includes a ramped leading edge and the device is installed such
that the ramped leading edge is positioned facing downhole.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the device supporting the use is
selected from those for accommodating wear against the wall of the
borehole into which the casing is run.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the device supporting use has a
bearing surface on its outer facing surface, the bearing surface
being selected to withstand wear against the borehole wall to a
degree greater than the casing.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the bearing surface includes
hard-facing.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the device supporting the use is
selected from those useful for positioning the casing in a borehole
in which the casing is to be run.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the device supporting use is a
centralizer.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein the device supporting use is a
wear band tool.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein the device is a ring having at
least one shoulder, which when interference fit onto the casing,
form an abrupt change in casing outer diameter.
14. The method of claim 1 wherein the substantially radially
directed force is applied by hydroforming.
15. The method of claim 1 wherein the substantially radially
directed force is applied by a collet reacting in a cone applied
axially thereabout.
16. A casing joint prepared for use in a wellbore comprising: a
joint of casing adapted for connection into a casing string; a
device installed onto the outer surface of the joint of casing, the
device including a tubular section having an inner bore, the device
installed by inserting the joint of casing through the inner bore
of the device and applying an inward, substantially
radially-directed force to a plurality of points about an outer
circumference of the tubular section causing it to plastically
deform inwardly and come into contact with the outer surface of the
joint of casing, applying such additional inward, substantially
radially directed force as required to force both the tubular
section of the device and the outer surface of the joint of casing
to displace inwardly an amount at least great enough so that when
the force is released, an interference fit is created between the
device and the joint of casing.
17. The casing joint of claim 16 wherein the device is selected
from those useful for facilitating run in of the joint casing by
reducing drag against the wellbore.
18. The casing joint of claim 17 wherein the device includes a
ramped leading edge and the device is installed such that the
ramped leading edge is positioned facing downhole.
19. The casing joint of claim 16 wherein the device is selected
from those for accommodating wear against the wall of the borehole
into which the casing is run.
20. The casing joint of claim 19 wherein the device has a bearing
surface on its outer facing surface, the bearing surface being
selected to withstand wear against the borehole wall to a degree
greater than the casing.
21. The casing joint of claim 20 wherein the bearing surface
includes hard-facing.
22. The casing joint of claim 16 wherein the device is a wear band
tool.
23. The casing joint of claim 16 wherein the device is a ring
having at least one shoulder, which when interference fit onto the
casing, form an abrupt change in casing outer diameter.
24. The casing joint of claim 16 wherein the device is selected
from those useful for positioning the casing in a borehole in which
the casing is to be run.
25. The casing joint of claim 16 wherein the device is a
centralizer.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. ______ (corresponding to Canadian 2,328,190)
filed ______, by Maurice Slack, the specification of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to method for preparing casing
for use in a wellbore.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Within the context of petroleum drilling and well
completions, wells are typically constructed by drilling the well
bore using one tubular string, largely comprised of drill pipe,
then removing the drill pipe string and completing by installing a
second tubular string, referred to as casing, which is subsequently
permanently cemented in place. The installation of casing, in this
typical construction requires that the casing be run into long
boreholes, some having horizontal stretches. In these horizontal
stretches, the casing must be installed by pushing it along the
borehole. In so doing the casing is pushed in engagement with the
borehole wall.
[0004] Recent advances in drilling technology have enabled wells to
be drilled and completed with a single casing string, eliminating
the need to `trip` the drill pipe in and out of the hole to service
the bit and make room for the casing upon completion of drilling.
This change is motivated by potential cost savings arising from
reduced drilling time and the expense of providing and maintaining
the drill string, plus various technical advantages, such as
reduced risk of well caving before installation of the casing.
[0005] Once installed either in a standard way, by running in after
a wellbore is drilled or by use as the drill string and the
wellbore liner, casing is often cemented in place. Cementing is
often adversely affected by movement of the casing once the cement
has hardened.
[0006] The use of wellbore casing, including during installation
through deviated wellbores or by drilling with casing and as a
wellbore liner, challenges the performance requirements of the
casing.
[0007] Any advancements in the wellbore casing wherein devices are
attached to the outer surface of the casing, requires the devices
be attached in a rugged way to the casing, since the devices must
be installed at surface and conveyed downhole with the casing. In
addition, any method for attaching the devices must not compromise
the integrity of the casing and the devices themselves must be
inexpensive since, even if used only to facilitate installation,
they must be left downhole with the casing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] A method has been invented for preparing casing for use in a
wellbore. The casing produced by the method is particularly suited
to overcome one or more problems encountered in running casing into
a borehole, using the casing as a drill string and cementing the
casing in place in the borehole. In the method, a device supporting
use of the casing in a wellbore is crimped onto the outer surface
of the casing. The device supporting use of the casing in a
wellbore can be a device for supporting installation of the casing,
either by standard run in operations or by use as a drill string,
or can be a device for supporting the cementing of casing into the
borehole.
[0009] The device supporting casing installation can be to
facilitate run in through the borehole, to maintain casing
positioning relative to the borehole and/or to accommodate wear
against the wall of the borehole into which the casing is run.
[0010] The device supporting casing cementing, can be to enhance
engagement between the casing and the annular cement between the
casing and the borehole wall.
[0011] The devices supporting the use of casing in a wellbore are
attached to the casing to create a connection having structurally
significant axial and torque load transfer capacity. When using
methods according to the present invention, the load transfer
capacity of the connection between the device and the casing can be
arranged to substantially prevent significant relative movement of
the device on the casing under loads that may be encountered when
installing one or more of the casing joints as a liner into a
wellbore which has been drilled using a conventional drilling
operation or when using one or more of the casing joints as
components of a tubular string used for drilling and lining a well
bore.
[0012] Thus, in accordance with one aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a method for preparing a casing joint
for use in a wellbore, selecting a joint of casing having an outer
diameter and an outer surface and capable of receiving a device
thereon by crimping and selecting a device supporting the use of
the casing in a wellbore, the device having an outer facing
surface, an inner bore sufficiently large to allow insertion
therethrough of the joint of casing, and at least one tubular
section on the body, the portion of the inner bore extending
through the tubular section having an internal diameter capable of
loosely fitting about the outer diameter of the joint of casing;
positioning the device on the joint of casing such that the joint
of casing extends through the inner bore; and crimping the device
onto the joint of casing by applying an inward, substantially
radially-directed force to a plurality of points about an outer
circumference of the tubular section causing it to plastically
deform inwardly and come into contact with the outer surface of the
joint of casing, applying such additional inward, substantially
radially directed force as required to force both the tubular
section of the device and the outer surface of the casing to
displace inwardly an amount at least great enough so that when the
force is released, an interference fit is created between the
device and the casing.
[0013] The step of applying substantially radially-directed force
to a plurality of points about an outer circumference of the
tubular section is termed herein as "crimping".
[0014] Preferably, by selection of casing, device supporting use of
the casing in a wellbore and/or force applied, the inward
displacement of the casing outer surface is not so great that the
drift diameter of the casing is excessively reduced. In one
embodiment, the casing is not displaced inwardly beyond the drift
diameter. However, in another embodiment, the inward displacement
of the casing outer surface causes the inner diameter of the casing
to be reduced beyond the drift diameter of the casing.
[0015] In one embodiment the method can be used to produce casing
for wellbore completion, in another embodiment the method can be
used to produce casing for use in a drill string and in another
embodiment the method can be used to produce a casing joint
particularly suited for cementing into a wellbore. The device
supporting use of the casing can be selected from those useful for
facilitating run in of the casing, those for controlling the
positioning of the casing within the borehole, those for
accommodating wear against the wall of the borehole into which the
casing is run, those for use in anchoring the casing in the
wellbore to inhibit relative movement between the casing string and
the wellbore wall or those providing combinations of the
foregoing.
[0016] Frictional forces enabled by the interference fit at the
inwardly displaced section provide the mechanism by which
structurally significant axial and torsional load may be
transferred between the device and the casing substantially without
slippage therebetween.
[0017] The casing on for use in the present invention must be
capable of accepting the hoop stresses of crimping without becoming
unstable, for example, without buckling or crumpling. This
generally requires that the casing be thick-walled, for example,
having an external diameter to thickness ratio ("D/t") less than
100 and preferably less than 50.
[0018] To be most generally useful for this method, the devices
useful in the present invention should be amenable to rapid field
installation on joints of casing having at least one non-upset
end.
[0019] The tubular section of the device under application of load
at a plurality of points about its circumference has an elastic
resiliency less than the elastic resiliency of the casing onto
which it is crimped. The tubular section can be cylindrical or
largely cylindrical with some radial or axial variations to the
internal diameter or outer surface. The tubular section should be
substantially circumferentially continuous such that a hoop stress
can be set up during the radially inward displacement at a
plurality of points about the circumference of the outer surface of
the section. The tubular section should be capable of accepting the
hoop stresses of crimping without becoming unstable, for example,
without buckling or crumpling. This generally requires that the
section be thick-walled, for example, having an external diameter
to thickness ratio ("D/t") less than 100 and preferably less than
50.
[0020] The loose fit of the section about the casing must be
sufficient to accommodate the variations of the outer diameter of
the casing intended to be used.
[0021] A device selected to facilitating run in of the casing can
include a ramped leading edge to facilitate riding over surface
contours on the borehole wall or to facilitate raising the casing
such that protrusions, such as casing connections, on the casing
outer surface can pass along the borehole without digging into the
formation or getting hung up on shoulders in the borehole wall.
[0022] A device selected to accommodate wear against the wall of
the borehole into which the casing is run can include bearing
surfaces capable of withstanding extended abrasion against borehole
surfaces and sufficient to withstand the rigors encountered during
installation into or the drilling of at least one well. The bearing
surfaces should withstand abrasion better than the material of the
casing and can be, for example, hard facing, which is the treatment
of steel to increase its hardness, ribs, lines of weldments,
hardened inserts, etc.
[0023] A device selected from those useful for controlling the
positioning of the casing within the borehole can provide for
spacing the casing from the borehole wall in which it is to be used
and, in particular, centralizing or stabilizing the casing within
the hole. Thus, in one embodiment, the thickness of the device is
selected such that once the bearing member is crimped onto the
casing, the device extends radially out beyond the outer surface of
the casing. In addition, the thickness of the bearing member at the
bearing surfaces can be selected such that the bearing member acts
as a centralizer or a stabilizer, with consideration as to the
inner diameter of the borehole in which the casing is to be
used.
[0024] A device selected to anchor the casing in the annular
confining material, such as cement, has a plurality outwardly
projecting abrupt diameter changes spaced along its length from end
to end. By abrupt, is meant that the diameter changes create
shoulder that preferably are substantially perpendicular to the
axis of the casing or alternately may be sloped with an angle of at
least 20.degree., and more preferably at least 45.degree. relative
to the axis of the casing. The ability to efficiently transfer
axial load between the anchoring device and the wellbore wall
through the confining material such as cement typically placed in
the annulus between the casing and wellbore wall will depend on the
tendency of the multiple abrupt diameter changes to displace the
confining material as axial movement is attempted. To provide a
significant improvement in the anchoring function of a threaded and
coupled anchored casing joint, the total volume swept by the
multiple abrupt diameter changes preferably should be of the same
order as that already swept by the face of the casing joint
coupling or collar for a given amount of axial movement. This
collar face area is typically approximately equal to the joint body
cross-sectional so that the swept volume is this area times the
axial displacement. Therefore, it is preferred that the relevant
upper or lower shoulder areas of the diameter changes of the
anchoring device should in total create an area equal to the
cross-sectional area of the anchored casing joint body. Otherwise
stated, the total axial area presented by the diameter change or
shoulder to the confining material in the direction of movement
should preferably be at least equal to the cross-sectional area of
the anchored casing joint tubular body.
[0025] In addition, the diameter changes preferably should be of
sufficient magnitude to result in significant inter-penetration
with the confining material. There may be gaps between the
confining material and the anchor joint tubular outer surface, such
as the micro-annulus reported to occur between cement and a
tubular. In addition, the radial stiffness of the confining
material may allow it to deflect away from surfaces where the
diameter change tends to cause loading during axial displacement of
the casing string. For these reasons, it is preferred that the
diameter changes be greater than 0.5% of the tubular diameter, more
preferably greater than 1% of the diameter.
[0026] In one embodiment, the method provides an a casing joint,
termed herein an anchor joint, comprising a joint of steel well
casing having external devices for anchoring, which are steel
rings, affixed by crimping in locking engagement with the tubular
wall. Preferably the rings are cylindrical, have a thickness about
equal to the tube wall thickness and are spaced apart at least 10
ring thicknesses.
[0027] The number of rings and the length of the anchor joint
should be selected with a view to providing adequate shoulder
contact with the cement or other confining material to react the
axial load tending to cause movement of the casing. Selecting the
number of rings, the length of anchor joint and the frequency of
anchor joints in a casing string will in part be determined by
field experience.
[0028] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a method for anchoring a casing string in a wellbore
comprising: inserting a plurality of anchor joints at spaced
intervals into a casing string as the string is being run into the
wellbore; each anchor joint comprising a joint of casing having a
plurality of external steel rings crimped in locking engagement
with the joint at spaced positions along the joint; and cementing
the anchor joints in the wellbore.
[0029] The external rings can be crimped onto the casing in any way
such as by use of a clamp, split dies forced together by a press,
collet jaws forced together by an axially loaded cone or compressor
or by hydroforming. In one embodiment, a hydroforming process
comprises; providing a thick-walled metal tubular compatible with a
casing string; positioning a crimpable ring around the tubular, the
ring being formed from a ductile material, such as steel, having a
yield strength less than the tubular, the ring having an internal
diameter slightly greater than the external diameter of the tubular
and an external profile comprising end sections and a middle
section of reduced outside diameter relative to the end sections;
providing a pressure forming vessel around the ring, the vessel
having an internal bore slightly larger than the outside diameter
of the ring, the forming vessel having internal grooves, carrying
seals, spaced to straddle the reduced diameter ring middle section
and to seal against the end sections to define a pressure chamber
between the seals; providing a stop tube, having a length at least
equal to that of the ring, within the tubular in opposed relation
to the ring, the stop tube preferably having an outside diameter
less than the inside diameter of the tubular by an amount at least
equal to twice the elastic limit displacement of the tubular; the
vessel having a passage extending through its wall to communicate
with the pressure chamber, introducing pressurized liquid into the
pressure chamber through the passage and causing the ring and
tubular side wall to deform inwardly until the side wall contacts
the stop tube and the ring is affixed to the tubular; and repeating
the foregoing steps to affix a plurality of rings to the tubular to
produce an anchor joint.
[0030] As a further step, the anchor joint so produced is connected
into a casing string and introduced into a wellbore.
[0031] In some aspects of the present invention, differential
temperature may be used to control interference between the casing
and the device supporting use of the casing according to the well
known methods of shrink fitting, whereby the differential
temperature is obtained by heating the device, cooling the casing,
or both, prior to crimping.
[0032] However, it is preferable to avoid the requirement to either
heat the device or cool the casing to obtain an interference fit.
In particular, preferably sufficient interference in the crimped
connection is obtained substantially only by mechanical means,
without requiring a significant temperature differential between
the device and the casing at the time of crimping. This purpose is
realized by selecting the elastic limit of the device material, in
the section to be crimped, to be less than that of the casing on
which the centralizer is to be installed. In this context, the
elastic limit generally refers to the strain at which the materials
of the parts yield. Having the material properties thus selected,
it will be apparent to one skilled in the art, that when the radial
displacement applied during crimping is sufficient to force the
hoop strain of the metal casing to be at least equal to its elastic
limit, upon release of the load causing the radial displacement,
the metal casing will tend to radially `spring back` an amount
greater than the centralizer, were both parts separated. Since the
parts are not separated, the difference in this amount of spring
back or resiliency is manifest as interference and fulfills the
desired purpose of creating interference substantially only by
mechanical means.
[0033] While a purely mechanical method of obtaining interference
through crimping is desirable for most applications, the present
invention can use both thermal and mechanical methods for
attachment of the device to the casing.
[0034] To facilitate the frictional engagement of the crimped
bearing member to the thickwall casing, the inside surface of the
device, at least over the section to be crimped (i.e at least a
portion of the inner surface defining the inner bore through the
tubular section), can be provided with a roughened surface finish.
In another embodiment, a friction enhancing material such as, for
example, a grit-epoxy mixture is disposed in the interfacial region
of the crimped section. Similarly, various bonding materials may be
disposed in the interfacial region prior to crimping to act as
glues augmenting the frictional aspects of the connection once
their shear strength is developed after setting.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035] A further, detailed, description of the invention, briefly
described above, will follow by reference to the following drawings
of specific embodiments of the invention. These drawings depict
only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to
be considered limiting of its scope. In the drawings:
[0036] FIG. 1 is a side view of a casing anchor joint comprising a
tubular having a plurality of crimped rings affixed thereto;
[0037] FIG. 2 is a partial cut-away side view of a crimp ring
positioned inside a hydroforming vessel and placed on the tubular
prior to crimping;
[0038] FIG. 3 is a partial cut-away side view of a crimped ring
positioned inside the forming vessel under application of the
forming pressure;
[0039] FIG. 4 is a cross-section through the wall of the assembly
of FIGS. 2 and 3, showing the configuration of an elastomer metal
back up ring for containing the seals;
[0040] FIG. 5 is a side view showing a plurality of anchor joints
incorporated into a casing string;
[0041] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another device in the form
of a casing centralizer useful in the present invention;
[0042] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 6
placed on a joint of casing as it might appear before crimping;
[0043] FIG. 8 is a partial sectional schematic view through the
wall of a device positioned coaxially on a casing joint and inside
a collet crimping tool prior to application of radial crimping
displacement;
[0044] FIG. 9 is the partial sectional schematic view of the
assembly shown in FIG. 8 as it would appear after application of
radial crimping displacement;
[0045] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another device supporting
use of the casing in a wellbore, the device being in the form of a
casing wear band tool; and
[0046] FIG. 11 is an axial sectional view through another device
supporting installation of casing shown crimped on a joint of
casing.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0047] In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a casing
prepared for use in a wellbore is shown in FIG. 1, The casing is
particularly adapted by connection of a device supporting cementing
of the casing into the wellbore. The casing joint 1 of steel well
casing is shown in FIG. 1 forming an anchor joint 2. The casing
joint 1 met the following specification:
[0048] length--40 feet
[0049] grade of steel--API L80
[0050] nominal inside diameter--6.366 inch
[0051] nominal outside diameter--7 inch
[0052] wall thickness--0.317
[0053] steel yield--80,000 psi
[0054] The casing joint 1 was threaded at each end to provide means
for use in connecting it into a casing string 3. A coupling 22 was
secured to one end of the joint 1.
[0055] A crimp ring 4 was positioned coaxially around the casing
joint 1. The ring 4 met the following specification:
[0056] grade of steel--API K55
[0057] nominal inside diameter--7 inch
[0058] length--4 inches
[0059] steel yield--55,000 psi
[0060] The ring 4 had an indented outer surface 15 or profile,
creating ring end sections 5, 6 and reduced diameter middle section
7, The wall thickness of each end section 5, 6 was 0.350 inches.
The wall thickness of the middle section 7 was 0.245 inches.
[0061] A hydroforming assembly 8 was provided to simultaneously
yield both the middle section 7 of the ring 4 and the casing joint
side wall 9, to leave the ring locked or swaged in a detent 10
formed in the side wall. More particularly, the assembly 8
comprised a pressure forming vessel 11 having an internal bore 12
extending therethrough, for receiving the casing joint 1 and ring
4. The diameter of the bore 12 was 0.010 inches larger than the
outside diameter of the ring 4. The interior surface 13 of the
vessel 11 formed seal grooves 14 for receiving elastomeric cup
seals 15, 16 which were positioned to seal against the end sections
5, 6, respectively. Suitable seals 15, 16 are available from Parker
Seal Group within their POLYPAK.RTM. product category. To mitigate
the tendency of even these high strength elastomeric seals to
extrude, it was found the elastomer could be reinforced with a thin
metal ring element 35 placed over the seal corner tending to be
extruded where the thin metal ring element 25 has overlapping ends
and an L-shaped cross-section. The bottom surface 13 of the vessel
11 combined with the top surface 18 of the ring middle section 7 to
form a pressure chamber 19 sealed by the seals 15, 18. A port 20
extended through the body of the vessel 11 to communicate with the
pressure chamber 19. Liquid under pressure could be introduced into
the pressure chamber 19 through port 20 to deform the ring 4 and
casing joint side wall 9.
[0062] A stop tube 21, having an outside diameter of 0.060 inches
less than the inside diameter of the casing joint and a length
approximately 1.5 times that of the ring 4, was inserted into the
bore 17 of the casing joint 1. The stop tube 21 was positioned
opposite the ring 4. The function of the stop tube 12 was to limit
the extent of deformation of the ring 4 and casing joint side wall
9 to about 2.5 to 3.5 times the elastic limit of the casing joint
steel under external pressure loading.
[0063] Water under pressure was introduced into the pressure
chamber 19. As the pressure was increased, the ring middle section
7 was initially forced into contact with the casing side wall 9. As
the pressure was increased to about 15,000 psi, both the ring and
casing side wall were forced into contact with the stop tube 21. At
this point, the pressure was released. Both the ring 4 and side
wall 9 rebounded. As the yield strength of the ring 4 was less than
that of the side wall 9, the ring rebounded less, thereby leaving
some residual contact stress between the casing side wall 9 and
ring 4. The ring 4 was left plastically formed into the slight
detent 10 in the side wall 9, and was thus plastically interlocked
into the casing wall, as shown in FIG. 3.
[0064] This process was repeated to affix 10 rings 4 onto the 40
foot casing joint 1 at a spacing of approximately 3 feet, thereby
completing production of the anchor joint 2 shown in FIG. 1.
[0065] Two such anchor joints 2 were then inserted in a casing
string 3, as shown in FIG. 5, together with corrugated compression
joints 23 (available from SynTec Inc. of Edmonton Alberta, Canada,
under the trade mark DuraWAV). The assembly 24 was then run into a
well and cemented in place.
[0066] When an anchor joint thus formed is cemented into a well,
the cement cast around the rings provides a compressive reaction
point at each ring face, effectively `locking` them into the
cement. If the casing is subsequently subjected to sufficient axial
load to cause it to displace relative to the rings and cement, such
movement requires the rings to move out of the detent. But this
creates additional interference with associated increase in contact
stress and frictional resistance tending to arrest the movement and
providing the desired anchor function. The limited amount of slip
thus allowed by the crimped rings, provides a `softer` anchor than
rigidly attached rings, delivering more uniform distribution of
load transfer between multiple rings with less tendency to
sequentially fail the cement. Crimped rings are thus the preferred
method of providing a multiplicity of diameter changes on a tubular
article functioning as a casing anchor joint. The preferred
embodiment of using a hydraulic swaging process to install the
crimp rings also avoids potential embrittlement or corrosion attack
that may otherwise arise if the rings were welded onto the
casing.
[0067] Removal of fluids and solids from hydrocarbon bearing
reservoirs, such as unconsolidated channel sands on primary
production, can lead to either global or local compression of the
reservoir. In either case, compression tends to be greatest near
the producing wellbore allowing "roof caving" and "floor bulging"
to reduce the original thickness. Near vertical production casings
traversing such a reservoir interval will thus tend to be shortened
or compressed. Reservoir vertical compressive strains range from
fractions to tens of a percent. Given the limited elastic range of
casing steel, typically 0.25%, straight casing is usually loaded
near or beyond its elastic limit [yield capacity].
[0068] This in itself leads to potentially damaging compressive
loads at connections or perforations, but when combined with
reduced lateral support, causes the casing to buckle. Lateral
support in such unconsolidated sandstone reservoirs is lost through
production of solids. The curvature and magnitude of the resultant
buckled shape allowed by the available annular space increases
stress, reduces collapse capacity, impairs access and may damage
production equipment, such as pumps, located inside the casing in
the buckled interval.
[0069] If short sections or pups of compliant casing are placed in
the casing string above and below the compressing reservoir
interval, axial load is reduced, and consequently the buckling
amplitude and curvature can be reduced or eliminated, where the
interval thickness does not exceed a few tens of meters. However,
if these wells are subsequently thermally stimulated by steaming,
the heated casing outside this interval will tend to expand and
potentially displace into the compliant casing pups known by the
trade name DuraWAV. Furthermore, most thermal stimulation processes
impose some temperature cycles, even if not intentionally, further
tending to over strain the DuraWAV tools.
[0070] These deleterious consequences can be overcome if casing
anchor joints are employed, particularly above the upper DuraWAV
tool as shown in FIG. 5. This figure schematically shows a well
design using 7 inch (178 mm) casing joined with industry standard
buttress threaded couplings (BT&C) or 8-round short thread
couplings (ST&C). Reservoir thicknesses range from less than 10
meters up to about 30 meters thickness. Two anchor joints are
employed above the upper DuraWAV tool to ensure heated casing is
prevented from displacing downward and compromising the ability of
the DuraWAV tool to absorb reservoir compressive strain or maintain
pressure integrity.
[0071] In another aspect of the preferred embodiment, we the rings
can be providing a plurality of diameter changes. While the use of
hydroforming has been illustrated as the method of crimping the
rings onto the casing, it is to be understood that other crimping
methods can be used, as desired.
[0072] FIGS. 1 to 5 illustrated a method for preparing casing for
use in a wellbore and, in particular, for use to enhance cementing
results. The installability of wellbore casing can be enhanced by
attachment thereto of devices supporting the installation of the
casing. Attachment by crimping provides a rugged interference fit
between the casing and the device that is capable of withstanding
the axial and radial load of casing installation and substantially
does not compromise casing integrity.
[0073] A device useful in the present invention is shown in FIG. 6.
The device is a centralizer useful for supporting casing
installation by at least maintaining the position of the casing
relative to the borehole and accommodating wear against the wall of
the borehole into which the casing is run. The centralizer includes
metal body 51 containing an internal bore 52, a cylindrical end 53
forming a section suitable for crimping, and a centralizing section
54 on which ribs 55 are placed.
[0074] The cylindrical end and the centralizing section are formed
integral on the body and the internal bore passes through both of
them. While the crimpable section in the illustrated embodiment is
cylindrical end 53, it is to be noted that the crimpable section
can be formed intermediate a pair of centralizing sections, if
desired, rather than on an end. Also, it is to be noted that more
than one crimpable section and more than one centralizing section
can be provided on the centralizer, as desired.
[0075] Ribs 55 are evenly spaced around the centralizing section.
There are at least three ribs spaced about the circumference of the
centralizing section. Preferably, each rib is helically shaped and
the number, length and pitch of the rib helixes are arranged to
ensure that the starting circumferential position of each rib
overlaps the ending circumferential position of at least one
adjacent rib. The ribs may be placed on the centralizer body by a
variety of methods including milling, casting, welding or
hydroforming. The ribs extend out, with consideration as to the
diameter of the borehole in which the casing is to be used, such
that they provide for centralization in the borehole. In
particular, the effective diameter of the centralizer from the
outer surfaces of the ribs should be about equal to the borehole
diameter. However, the ribs are spaced to provide openings between
the ribs such that fluids can pass by the centralizer as they move
up the casing annulus.
[0076] The internal bore 52 of the centralizer body is selected to
loosely fit over at least one end of a thick-wall metal casing 1,
shown as a threaded casing joint in FIG. 7 onto which a coupling 1a
has been threaded. As shown, the internal diameter of bore 52
allows the centralizer to be readily inserted over an end of the
casing 1 and placed somewhere along the length of the casing joint
prior to crimping. Thus placed, crimping provides a means to obtain
a significant interference fit even where the centralizer and
casing material are at similar temperatures prior to crimping. In
applications where significant heating of the casing and
centralizer, after centralizer installation, is anticipated, the
centralizer is preferably selected to have a thermal expansion
coefficient that is equal to or less than that of the casing.
Similarly in applications where cooling subsequent to crimping is
anticipated, the opposite relationship between thermal expansion
coefficients is preferred.
[0077] Radial displacement required to crimp the centralizer
cylindrical end 53 to the casing joint 1, on which it is placed,
may be accomplished by various methods such as by hydroforming, as
described hereinabove. However, a fixture employing a tapered
`collet in housing` architecture has been found to also work well.
This welt known method of applying uniform radial displacement, and
consequently radial force when in contact with the exterior of a
cylindrical work piece, employs a device as shown schematically in
FIG. 8. The device retains the externally tapered fingers or jaws
57 of a collet (segments of an externally conical sleeve) inside a
matching internally tapered solid housing 58. Application of axial
setting force to the housing 58, as shown by vector F, which is
reacted at the face 57a of the collet jaws 57, as shown by vector
R, tends to induce the collet jaws 57 to penetrate into the collet
housing 58 along the angle of its conical bore. This causes the
jaws 57 to move radially inwardly and engage the work piece to be
gripped, in the present case, shown as the cylindrical end 53 of a
centralizer. (Alternately, the action of the collet may be
described in terms of setting displacement, understood as axial
displacement of the collet housing 58 with respect to the collet
jaws 57, In this case the setting force is understood to arise
correlative with the setting displacement.) The axial force F and
reaction R are readily applied by, for example, a hollow bore
hydraulic actuator (not shown), arranged with an internal bore
greater than the casing 1 outside diameter.
[0078] With this arrangement, upon application of sufficient force
(F), the jaws may be forced inward to first cause sufficient radial
displacement to plastically deform the centralizer cylindrical end
53 and bring it into contact with the casing 1. This amount of
radial displacement removes the annular clearance of the loose fit
initially required for placing and positioning the centralizer on
the casing 1. Application of additional setting force then forces
both the centralizer cylindrical end 53, and the underlying wall of
the casing 1, inward. In the preferred embodiment the setting
displacement is preferably applied until the hoop strain in the
casing wall at the crimp location equals or slightly exceeds its
elastic limit. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that
radial displacement beyond this point will cause little increase in
residual interference but will have the effect of reducing the
drift diameter of the casing joint 1. FIG. 9 schematically shows
the collet, centralizer and casing as they might appear in the
fully crimped position. After the desired radial displacement is
achieved, the setting displacement of the collet is reversed which
releases it from the centralizer allowing the collet to be removed,
leaving the centralizer crimped to the casing.
[0079] To ensure that this method of cold crimping (i.e.,
mechanical crimping unassisted by thermal effects) results in
sufficient residual interference between the centralizer
cylindrical end 53 and the casing 1, the centralizer material at
the cylindrical end 53 has an elastic limit less than that of the
casing. As is typically the case, the centralizer and casing
material are both made from carbon steel having nearly the same
elastic modulii. Therefore, the elastic limit may be expressed in
terms of yield strength, since elastic limit is generally given by
yield stress divided by elastic modulus.
[0080] For example, in one trial conducted to assess the torque
capacity to be obtained by crimping a centralizer to 7 inch
diameter API grade L80 26 ppf casing material (minimum specified
yield strength of 80,000 psi), steel centralizer material having a
measured yield strength of 47,000 psi was selected. The centralizer
elastic limit was thus less than 50% that of the casing. Using this
material, a centralizer having an outside diameter of 7.625 inches,
an inside diameter of 7.125 inches and a machined inside bore, was
constructed for one trial. After crimping this centralizer to the
casing over a 3.5 inch section using the method of the present
invention described above, the axial force required to displace the
centralizer was measured to be approximately 20,000 lbf. Had this
sliding force been applied through torsion, the required torque to
induce sliding rotation of the centralizer relative to the casing
would be 5833 ftlb. This may be compared to the maximum expected
total drilling torque for this size of casing, which is in the
order of 20,000 ftlb. Given this crimped centralizer configuration,
the torque transferred between just one such centralizer and
casing, would need to exceed 25% of the total worst case drilling
torque, to induce slippage of the centralizer on the casing.
[0081] However, in certain applications it may be desirable to
further enhance the load transfer capacity of a centralizer
attached to casing, without increasing the crimped length, by
improving the frictional engagement achieved for a given level of
interference. While this may be accomplished by various means,
roughening one or both of the cylindrical end inner wall or the
casing outer surface on which the centralizer was to be crimped,
was found to be particularly effective. In one trial using a
centralizer configured similar to that described in the preceding
example, but where the wall surface 59 defining the internal bore
52 of the centralizer was roughened by grit blasting prior to
crimping, the equivalent torque capacity was increased
approximately 70%.
[0082] The length of the section crimped will in general linearly
affect the load transfer capacity of the crimped connection. For
centralizers attached to full length casing joints, the length of
section suitable for crimping, provided by the cylindrical end 53
may be extended almost without limit. Similarly the length of the
collet jaws 57, do not limit length that may be crimped. The collet
tool may be used to apply the required radial displacement at
multiple axial locations to incrementally crimp an extended length
cylindrical end 53, Increased load transfer capacity may thus be
readily achieved by increasing the crimped section length.
[0083] Referring to FIG. 10, another device supporting the
installation of wellbore casing is shown that is useful in the
present invention. While centralizers as shown in FIG. 6 could be
attached to the casing at frequent enough intervals to prevent
wear, other less elaborate devices, such as the wear band tool of
FIG. 10 can be used to facilitate run in and/or to accommodate
wear.
[0084] The wear band tool includes a metal body 101 containing an
internal bore 102, a cylindrical mid-section 103 forming a section
suitable for crimping, and two end intervals 104 on which
hard-faced wear bands 105 are placed. As shown, a concentric wear
band 105 is placed at each end of the wear band tool forming
slightly raised diameter intervals. These wear bands are formed by
attaching hard-facing material as commonly known to the industry to
metal body 101. The wear band tool is attached to casing by
crimping over a portion of cylindrical mid-section 103 using the
methods described above for the centralizer tool.
[0085] Wear bands, if they extend continuously about the entire
circumference, should be selected with consideration as to the
diameter of the borehole in which the wear band tool is to be used,
such that the wear bands do not extend the full diameter of the
borehole. This provides that the wear bands do not block fluids
passing up the annulus between the casing and the borehole
wall.
[0086] Another wear band tool is shown in FIG. 11 in crimped form
on a joint of casing 1. The wear band facilitates installation of
casing and includes a metal body 101 containing an internal bore
102, a cylindrical end section 106 forming a section suitable for
crimping, and an interval 104 on which a wear band 105 is securely
mounted. An end 108 of the wear band tool is ramped to facilitate
passage thereover of discontinuities in the borehole. End 108 has a
leading edge ramp angle a between the ramped surface and the
surface 9 of the inner bore that is selected to ease movement of
the casing through the borehole by reducing drag of the casing and
casing connections as the casing is advanced through the borehole,
especially in horizontal sections, where the casing lies against
the borehole wall. Generally, the angle .alpha. is selected to be
less than about 60.degree. and preferably less than 45.degree. and
most preferably less than about 20.degree.. This ramped leading
edge is preferably positioned facing downhole to facilitate run in
of the casing joint on which it is mounted.
[0087] The wear band tool can also be used downhole of a shoulder
on the casing, such as a coupling, wherein the ramped leading edge
108 can facilitate passage of the casing through the borehole by
preventing the casing shoulder from digging into the formation. The
wear band tool can, therefore, be used alone to space the casing
from the borehole wall and to accommodate wear, since the wear band
105 will wear preferentially over the shoulder on the casing.
[0088] It will be apparent that these and many other changes may be
made to the illustrative embodiments, while falling within the
scope of the invention, and it is intended that all such changes be
covered by the claims appended hereto.
* * * * *